Dom-In(F)O House, 2002-2003

Here, Dagmar Richter worked with an icon of modernism, Le Corbusier’s Dom-ino house (1914-1915), a standard structure for mass production. Certain performance criteria, which have been digitally integrated, in-(f)orm the basic column and slab system: the atmosphere, connections, humidity, temperature, light, recycling, flexibility of facilities, etc. replace the original requirements (erecting and supporting floors) and generate new structural and organizational combinations as well as alternative solutions to industrial production. Subjected to a process of metamorphosis by means of a software program that animates the surface, the skeleton of the Dom-ino engenders a whole series of prototypes with varying connections between the top and the bottom, duplicating the levels to create as many varied pods. Then, by taking into account contemporary social data, it generates interiors adapted to different short- or long-term uses and different horizontal or vertical organizations. At the time, the DR_D LAB was experimenting with possibilities for connections between buildings and surrounding landscape. Finally, focusing on an analysis of the adaptable furnishings Le Corbusier had proposed for the modern house, Dagmar Richter determined the surface area of the units based on “a library of surfaces” specifically developed from concepts of filtering, visual access, shadow, body support, etc.